If you have a pet pooch, chances are that he knows more about you than you know about him because he has made a close study of your habits.
If you disagree, please tell me how he knows that you are about to go out as soon as you grab your car keys and wallet.
Dogs can easily detect your emotions. They know when you are sad, cranky, or ready to play with them. They also learn the time and place for family meals and when it's just about bed time.
So how much have you managed to learn about your dog? Probably not ten percent as much as he has taught himself about you. However, learning about him is fairly easy once you put your mind to it.
Your dog's bark serves quite a few different purposes. One bark is used to repel others while another bark is used to attract. Can you detect the difference between his "go away" bark and his "Hey, I'm over here - where the heck are you?" bark? All but the most disinterested dog watchers will notice that dogs barking can range from a muted "woof" of thanks to the high-pitched "yelp" of alarm, to the loud series of angry barks that indicate he's ready for a fight.
I think it was Sir John Lubbock, 19th century British behaviorist, who noted that a dogs bark is an effort to copy the human voice. Wild dogs, he pointed out, do not bark. Neither do their cousins the wolves, nor does any member of the canine family that has not heard humans speak or the barking of domestic dogs.
The intent of a bark is completely different from that of a growl. When barking, a dog flings his head high, leaving his throat exposed and unprotected. Barking is definitely not a war cry. But when he growls he lowers his head so as to protect the vulnerable throat area, preparing for an impending fight.
So... when you're walking up the path to a house and the family dog comes racing out barking loudly, you are most likely in no danger. However, if he advances toward you growling, with his head lowered and his tail rigid, then look out - there's trouble ahead.
If you stand absolutely still with your hands on your chest not one barking dog in ten will actually bite. However, if you make threatening gestures, or if you turn and run, your chances of one or more bites are extremely high. A strange dogs growl should never be disregarded by anyone who values his skin.
If you disagree, please tell me how he knows that you are about to go out as soon as you grab your car keys and wallet.
Dogs can easily detect your emotions. They know when you are sad, cranky, or ready to play with them. They also learn the time and place for family meals and when it's just about bed time.
So how much have you managed to learn about your dog? Probably not ten percent as much as he has taught himself about you. However, learning about him is fairly easy once you put your mind to it.
Your dog's bark serves quite a few different purposes. One bark is used to repel others while another bark is used to attract. Can you detect the difference between his "go away" bark and his "Hey, I'm over here - where the heck are you?" bark? All but the most disinterested dog watchers will notice that dogs barking can range from a muted "woof" of thanks to the high-pitched "yelp" of alarm, to the loud series of angry barks that indicate he's ready for a fight.
I think it was Sir John Lubbock, 19th century British behaviorist, who noted that a dogs bark is an effort to copy the human voice. Wild dogs, he pointed out, do not bark. Neither do their cousins the wolves, nor does any member of the canine family that has not heard humans speak or the barking of domestic dogs.
The intent of a bark is completely different from that of a growl. When barking, a dog flings his head high, leaving his throat exposed and unprotected. Barking is definitely not a war cry. But when he growls he lowers his head so as to protect the vulnerable throat area, preparing for an impending fight.
So... when you're walking up the path to a house and the family dog comes racing out barking loudly, you are most likely in no danger. However, if he advances toward you growling, with his head lowered and his tail rigid, then look out - there's trouble ahead.
If you stand absolutely still with your hands on your chest not one barking dog in ten will actually bite. However, if you make threatening gestures, or if you turn and run, your chances of one or more bites are extremely high. A strange dogs growl should never be disregarded by anyone who values his skin.
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